Longview Weather
79°F
Severe
Full Forecaste

Past Month's Most Commented Stories

Home > Area News

Go 4th leaders express frustration during Longview budget hearing

Friday, November 21, 2008 6:38 PM PST

By Amy M.E. Fischer

Font Size:
 
 

Fourth of July festival organizers pleaded for funding, citizens questioned spending priorities and Longview City Council members argued over tax and fee hikes during Thursday’s city budget hearing.

“What a difference two years can make,” City Finance Director Kurt Sacha told the council, echoing the words he said in 2006 during a period of unprecedented growth.

Two years ago, the council was debating how to spend a budget surplus brought on by a construction boom and surge in sales tax revenues. Now, the city is laying off employees, cutting services and struggling to raise revenues to balance its $212.7 million budget for 2009-2010.

The budget is $57.5 million higher than it was for 2007-2008, a 37 percent increase driven by capital projects including a new water treatment plant and rerouting West Longview’s sewer system, Sacha said.

To pay for the utility construction projects, the city is dramatically hiking utility rates over the next several years. On top of that, the council has decided to raise taxes on utility bills from 7 percent to 9.5 percent for the next two years, promising the tax will revert to 7 percent on Jan. 1, 2011.

Thursday, Councilman Andy Busack repeated his objections to the utility tax hike. City Manager Bob Gregory replied that if the council doesn’t raise the tax, it will have to decide which city services to cut instead.

Councilman Dennis Weber pointed out that the council may be in that position anyway in six months. At what point, he asked, would the council entertain the notion of renegotiating union employees’ contracts and wage rates?

Gregory said that idea got a cool reception when city staff brought it up recently to the city’s labor groups. The unions recommended the city cut services and reduce staff levels rather than reopen their contracts, he said.

One citizen questioned the council’s spending priorities, asking why the city would cut jobs and services while planning several capital improvement projects, such as a $250,000 pedestrian and bicycle path in the Highlands between Oregon Way and 26th Avenue. The man also criticized the council’s allocation of $100,000 to begin renovating R.A. Long Park in the center of Longview’s historic Civic Center.

Gregory explained that capital projects are funded by real estate excise taxes. Those taxes go into a dedicated fund that can’t be used to pay for services such as the library, police and fire department. The city is expecting to bring in $250,000 a year in real estate excise tax revenue, he said. In addition, that fund has leftover money that wasn’t used the previous year, when there were a couple of large real estate transactions that padded the pot.

One cost-saving measure the council settled upon was to stop funding police overtime for outside events such as the annual Go 4th festival, the KLOG car cruise, YMCA teen nights and National Night Out. That method of saving roughly $30,000 has proven controversial.

The Go 4th Festival Association was shocked and upset to learn that it would have to come up with $10,000 to pay for security at its three-day event, which draws thousands of people from across the region to Lake Sacajawea for food, music, vendors and an elaborate fireworks show. Local charities are worried they’ll lose their biggest annual fundraising event if organizers are forced to cancel it.

To cover the unanticipated security cost, the City Council has welcomed the cash-strapped Go 4th association to apply for hotel/motel tax dollars, which are allocated to groups that promote tourism. The current available amount is $13,000.

With vendor contract deadlines already looming for next summer’s festival, the Go 4th association has said it needs more assurance than a promise to have its funding application strongly considered.

Thursday, Go 4th’s executive director, Arleen Hubble, reminded the council the association has never requested city funding for operations in 30 years. The cost of putting on the event has risen from $15,000 in 1989 to more than $100,000 today, the group has said.

“Without a commitment from you, Go 4th is dead,” Hubble said. “You will have the dubious reputation of being the council who were the cause of the discontinued annual celebration of our independence.”

Hubble also pointed out that next summer’s Go 4th festival will likely draw an even bigger crowd because the city of Vancouver has canceled its celebration due to funding shortages.

All the council could do was strongly hint that Go 4th would get top priority during consideration of hotel/motel tax dollar applications.

“We’ll do what we can to make sure that the festival happens,” Mayor Kurt Anagnostou said.

A second budget hearing will be held at the Dec. 12 council meeting, and the council is expected to formally adopt the budget the same night.

Related article:

Go 4th 2009 not a sure bet, organizers say  (Nov. 8)

Previous Next

jensdad wrote on Nov 21, 2008 12:14 AM:

" Well it looks like the union leaders have spoken. Time to start laying off people. My how money makes fools out of all of us until we have none. Oh and now that the fuel prices have fallen thru the floor can we get some of that money back from Waste Control or is someone planning a long vacation? Maybe to the extra income from the Go 4th. events aren't really as necessary as a couple new vehicles in the motor pool. "

mom of four wrote on Nov 21, 2008 12:59 AM:

" You need to start earlier on donations, most places donate quarterly. "

feistyone wrote on Nov 21, 2008 5:55 AM:

" Funny how the taxpayers end of paying for everything. If you are going to do that I would rather the money go for the 4th. "

Overeducated wrote on Nov 21, 2008 7:48 AM:

" "jensdad" The State regulates Waste Control's profits. All companies like Waste Control have a solid cap on their profits and are audited by the state yearly.
And if you think the union employees make too much money, then compare their salaries to employees at Weyerhaeuser. "

lucky1 wrote on Nov 21, 2008 7:58 AM:

" Nice of the Union leaders to tell them to cut services and lay off staff instead of reopen there contracts. Way to care about anyone but yourself. "

Mrs. Pellwerds wrote on Nov 21, 2008 7:59 AM:

" How can Hubble stand there and place all the blame on the city council for her organizations budget woes? Follow Vancouver's lead and cancel the event. Take the money from this year and apply it to next year if you still desire to have the event. "

Lance Johnson wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:03 AM:

" I sure hope the voters of this area remember this when re election comes up. The total mismanagement of this city has now crippled it. Greed runs rampant. How much did the "Great Wall Of Lake Sac" cost? And now they talk of a trail through the Highlands. The local leadership in this whole county needs to be purged. Good thing we just re uped our county commish's. I guess this area missed the message of "Change" this election year. Longview is turning into a bigger version of Ryderwood, no jobs, no future, a big retirement community. If I were a young go getter in this area I would get as far away from it is possible. "

Regular Reader wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:53 AM:

" This will definitely be a tight budget cycle, reflecting the national economic slump. That said, some of the comments here always surprise me--for example "cut the elected officials' salaries!". FYI, the council amd mayor only receive a small stipend for a few monthly meetings--it's not a full time job except in a much larger metropolis. As to government full-time employees, those salaries are generally based on comparables with private and public sector similar positions. Engineers, computer technicians, police, fire, etc, are drawn from very competitive pools. Longview isn't even near the "top draw" employers in government circles. As Overeducated alluded to, what do you think the millwrights, electricians, engineers, and longshoremen make in this town? And Feistyone-- that's right, the taxpayers do pay for roads, police, sewers, and other services. How did you think it worked?
As always: Stay in school, don't do drugs, don't be a felon, and you can get those good jobs too! "

ericb454 wrote on Nov 21, 2008 8:55 AM:

" Is the bike trail thru the highlands being put there so the cops can keep a better eye on the meth heads? Next thing the city will want is 20 grand for meth heads crossing signs. "

jensdad wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:09 AM:

" Overeducated... So is that extra money sent to them for high diesel prices figured into that? Now that things have gone down where does that extra go to? As for Weyheauser salarys. I am not the personel mgr. there but i am sure if it were sink or swim i would be paddling as hard as i could to stay afloat instead of depending on someone else that are having a hard time staying afloat themselves. Just so u know too. I sank with Reynolds. I was union too..... "

kelsolady wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:24 AM:

" Question: people come from ALL OVER (even Ranier/Clatskanie) so why isn't this a County issue? Especially with Vancouver being cancelled... "

Ella Mentry wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:49 AM:

" How dare Hubble try and manipulate the city by making the outrageous remark, "You will have the dubious reputation of being the council who were the cause of the discontinued annual celebration of our independence." Oh, brother. Blaming a city for the bad economy? Blaming a city because a committee didn't raise enough funds to keep the event going? Kudos to Longview for having to make the tough decisions and putting up with crazy talk. "

flatbakman wrote on Nov 21, 2008 10:08 AM:

" As far as the cruise goes, since it is no longer illegal to cruise, why does the city need to provide the overkill of officers that they have in the past for this event? "

4kiddos wrote on Nov 21, 2008 10:48 AM:

" If it's not in the budget, then it's not in the budget. Everyone needs to learn to deal with it, we are in economic hard times and some things have to go. Peoples mentalities have been "spend, spend, spend the money will be there." Well it's not. I understand that it brings a lot of people and money to community. I understand that for a lot of people this is where they go for the 4th and to some it is a traditon. IT won't hurt if it's cancelled for a year or two. I think Vancouver is wise with what they are doing, NOT SPENDING on what they can't afford. "

Gondolapete wrote on Nov 21, 2008 12:16 PM:

" Since I dont go to the fiasco they hold every fourth at the lake, I dont care..What I DO care about is the cities total lack of any sort of financial planning..I can think of quite a few services they can cut, as well as actually have their crews work a full 8 hr day..I worked there for summer help many yrs ago at the street dept, and water dept for many summers..I know the exact work routine..start at 7:30, leave the shop around 8 after all materials are gathered, go to job site, set up, break time is at 9, so you drive to break spot, at that time it was Hart Cs or The Pancake house as the regular spots, depending on where you worked..take break usually 30-45 mins, drive back to job site, work until 11 am, drive back to shop for lunch..eat lunch..usually 45 mins to an hr..drive back to job site, work from 12:30 until afternoon break.. drive to break spot.go back to work, until 4, drive back to shop to play cards until 4:30..and that is no joke!!!! "

country gal wrote on Nov 21, 2008 1:50 PM:

" Whoa Gondolapete: I'm sure those guys are going to love you for telling on them! LOL "

Local Mom wrote on Nov 21, 2008 3:56 PM:

" This is incredibly sad... Although I must admit that since the conception of Rainier Days in the Park the weekend after July 4th... my family hasn't bothered with the Lake. We enjoy the festivities on the 4th in Clatskanie. The parking is much easier and the people far more friendly. Then the following Saturday we kick up our heels in Rainier during their big annual celebration. It truly gets better each year. Never disappoints! "

Gondolapete wrote on Nov 21, 2008 4:14 PM:

" hey, I speak 100% truth on this subject.. "

scoop11 wrote on Nov 22, 2008 12:56 PM:

" I can tell you that Gondolapete is right on with his comment, about 20 years ago. I agree that the reputation of city workers has been ran through the mud. But the city workers of Longview are second to none. We have been doing more work with less people for about 15 years now. We have tightened up our budgets and improved our city tremendously. As far as management and the council goes, they have to make decisions based on the best for our city. Now, we may not all agree with every decision but everyone will never agree completely. I feel they are doing a wonderful job in this time of economic hardship. As far as the union leaders saying to cut programs and lay people off, they are sadly mistaken. for we have not been asked once to take any cuts. It is not up to union leaders anyway. I feel that as a community we need to stick together and quite bashing one another for our own enjoyment, for it does not get anywhere. we need to stick to facts and if we are not sure of them, then learn what they are before we judge. We have a great city, and we are falling on some hard times. with Steel Scape, and Fibre to the economy in general. But we will see our way out, we have before. "

Top Jobs
More Top Jobs
Top Garage Sales
More Top Garage Sales
Top Rentals
More Top Rentals